LKS Report post Posted October 20, 2005 When my son was due to transfer to secondary school I was very worried as to how all the teachers would know of his difficulties and how to deal with them. Phasmid gave me some really useful advice and I was able to put together a profile of my son. This was quite lengthy but detailed. The Senco, form tutor and welfare assistant all have a copy of this. With the help of the specialist teacher for autism, we condensed this down to an A4 sheet with son's photo and the things that were likely to cause him most trouble, what strategies work well, his strengths,what he is likely to need assistance with and what would be helpful to him. There was also my mobile number at the bottom and e-mail in case of any extreme difficulties! I thought this was very good and would be easy for teachers to glance at when needed. One of the big points at the top of this profile was **** has difficulty with making appropriate verbal responses (can be outspoken unintentionally) this is quite a big problem for son as sometimes he can sound rude but does not realise it. Fastforward to english lesson. Son came home from school very stressed, in the end he told me this. My name got put up on the board in english, why was that I asked, son repiled, your name gets put up on the board when you are mis-behaving, again I asked so why was your name up on the board, son replied I think it was probably because I was talking. Teacher then says **** do you know your name is on the board, son replies yes I am aware of that fact. (this is the way he talks) teacher replies there is no need to answer so rudely. Son is starting to get a bit stressed now. It was then time to sort their books out, lots of sheets that had been given out needed sticking in. Again on the profile it says **** has difficulty with organisation, it helps if you explain things clearly and give him ideas of what has to be done. Son said he didn't know where to stick things in and he was getting in a mess, he finds it very difficult to ask for help though. Teacher comes over and says you are just time wasting this lesson aren't you. Do you all think I should go in and speak to someone every time something like this happens. It worries me that some of you who have children at secondary school have experienced this type of thing before and that is why our children can have such a hard time at secondary school. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anxiousmom Report post Posted October 20, 2005 You know... sometimes I feel like shaking teachers. Some of them (I will say some as I was once a teacher and have seen some wonderful ones out there!) just want to be there to teach their subject... but it is SO SOOOO much more than that. Having 30 little people to manage, inspire and care for just seems beyond the call of duty for some. All well and good for the 'norm' child but the bright ones, the different ones, the weaker ones are just so easy to over look. Teachers have a hard job and it's really under paid and under rated but you are still entitled to insist they do it right. They are just people and if they aren't doing right by your child then let them know it's not acceptable. Tell them they've overlooked his needs and help them get it right - best as you can make it amicable but don't be afraid of putting your foot down either. Mmmm turned into a bit of a rant I just get so frustrated... I'd ask for a quick word with the teacher and point out the potential scope for the mis-understandings and how it'll probably become clearer as they get to know each other more over time. As for reading reports on these kids... some will... some won't. It's the education lottery! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mossgrove Report post Posted October 20, 2005 My first question would be to ask if the teacher had seen the profile. we prepared all sorts of things for our son's mainstream school that never got used/passed on. If she wasn't aware of the isues it doesn't make it OK, but it does provide an explanation. Simon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puffin Report post Posted October 20, 2005 I'd call and have a chat with the teacher and try to clear this up. The friendly-chat approach might work well "I gather from the problems in class yesterday that you haven't seen the SEN profile that we did" - if she says no - then you can explain - if she says yes she has seen it - then you've got her! Sometimes these profiles seem to stay in SENCO's filing cabinet. I had a similar problem when the PE teacher had not been brought up to speed and overuled the LSA who was following the strategies! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LKS Report post Posted October 20, 2005 The Senco has assured me that all staff who will, or might be teaching son have a copy of this profile. I have left a message on the english teachers voice -mail to ask her to call me. Probably won't before half -term now. I just thought that the school might have tried to keep on top of things a little better as son is statemented, but as we all know this offers no guarantees I suppose you can get a teacher to read things but you cannot get them to act on them if they don't want to. Having quite a few friends and family who are teachers I know how hard they work and it must be really hard to teach those who need that extra effort. However if those concerned have a little bit of understanding of how my son works he really manages to fit in well. At the moment we don't have any real behaviour problems at school I want them to help me make sure that that is the way it stays. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted October 20, 2005 At the moment we don't have any real behaviour problems at school I want them to help me make sure that that is the way it stays. For that reason alone you need to speak to this teacher. Go in with a firm but polite manner and a copy of the sheet (in case she hasn't got one or has mislaid hers). Explain to her what happened in the same way you have phrased it here. If that fails to work - start getting tough about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest flutter Report post Posted October 24, 2005 got this myself i think when Dd broke arm at school, the nurse didnt know, when i told her she siad explains things. I dont want to ofend or seem pushy, but some at school know why do they not pass on. Although Doc who diagnosed said, that even if they know they may not act on it, cos they know best , i suppose at parents evening we shall tell them all tc C x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
